U.S. patent application number 14/597430 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-18 for display device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Display Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Yi Joon AHN, Tae Hee LEE, Yong Suk YEO.
Application Number | 20160050472 14/597430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55303125 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160050472 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Tae Hee ; et
al. |
February 18, 2016 |
DISPLAY DEVICE
Abstract
A display device may include a display panel, a bottom chassis
configured to accommodate the display panel, and a plurality of
speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and
configured to output sounds. The bottom chassis may include a
plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an
enclosure is defined, and also may include a groove that is defined
between the protrusions, an opening that is defined by the
protrusions, or an elastic member configured to couple the
protrusions. The respective speaker units may be disposed in
respective protrusions.
Inventors: |
LEE; Tae Hee; (Gumi-si,
KR) ; AHN; Yi Joon; (Seoul, KR) ; YEO; Yong
Suk; (Seongnam-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Display Co., Ltd. |
Yongin-City |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
55303125 |
Appl. No.: |
14/597430 |
Filed: |
January 15, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/333 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/028 20130101;
H04R 17/00 20130101; H01L 51/5237 20130101; H04R 7/045 20130101;
H04R 2499/15 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04R 1/02 20060101
H04R001/02; H01L 27/32 20060101 H01L027/32; H01L 51/52 20060101
H01L051/52; G02F 1/1333 20060101 G02F001/1333; G02F 1/1335 20060101
G02F001/1335 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0106986 |
Claims
1. A display device, comprising: a display panel; a bottom chassis
configured to accommodate the display panel; and a plurality of
speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and
configured to output sounds; wherein the bottom chassis comprises a
plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an
enclosure is defined, and a groove that is disposed between the
protrusions; and wherein respective said speaker units are disposed
in respective said protrusions.
2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel
comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate opposite the first
substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first
and second substrates.
3. The display device of claim 2, further comprising: a light guide
plate; an optical sheet disposed under the light guide plate; and a
backlight unit comprising a light source disposed on one side of
the light guide plate.
4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the optical sheet
comprises at least one of a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, and a
protective sheet; and wherein the light source comprises at least
one light emitting diode (LED).
5. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display panel
comprises: a substrate; a display layer disposed on the substrate,
the display layer comprising an organic light emitting diode
(OLED); and a thin film encapsulation layer configured to cover the
display layer.
6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the protrusions have
different areas with respect to each other.
7. The display device of claim 1, wherein each said speaker unit
comprises: a lower electrode; an upper electrode opposite the lower
electrode; and a piezoelectric element disposed between the lower
and upper electrodes.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the speaker units are
electrically connected to the display panel, and the piezoelectric
elements vibrate in response to voltage applied to the upper and
lower electrodes so that the speaker units output sounds.
9. A display device, comprising: a display panel; a bottom chassis
configured to accommodate the display panel; and a plurality of
speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and
configured to output sounds; wherein the bottom chassis comprises a
plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an
enclosure is defined, and an opening that is disposed between the
protrusions; and wherein respective said speaker units are disposed
in respective said protrusions.
10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the display panel
comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate opposite the first
substrate; and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first
and second substrates.
11. The display device of claim 10, further comprising: a light
guide plate; an optical sheet disposed under the light guide plate;
and a backlight unit comprising a light source disposed on one side
of the light guide plate.
12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the optical sheet
comprises at least one of a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, and a
protective sheet; and wherein the light source comprises at least
one light emitting diode (LED).
13. The display device of claim 9, wherein the display panel
comprises: a substrate; a display layer disposed on the substrate,
the display layer comprising an organic light emitting diode
(OLED); and a thin film encapsulation layer configured to cover the
display layer.
14. The display device of claim 9, wherein the protrusions have
different areas with respect to each other.
15. The display device of claim 9, wherein each said speaker unit
comprises: a lower electrode; an upper electrode disposed opposite
the lower electrode; and a piezoelectric element disposed between
the lower and upper electrodes.
16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the speaker units are
electrically connected to the display panel, and the piezoelectric
elements vibrate in response to voltage applied to the upper and
lower electrodes so that the speaker units output sounds.
17. A display device, comprising: a display panel; a bottom chassis
configured to accommodate the display panel; and a plurality of
speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and
configured to output sounds; wherein the bottom chassis comprises a
plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an
enclosure is defined, and an elastic member configured to couple
the protrusions; and wherein respective said speaker units are
disposed in respective said protrusions.
18. The display device of claim 17, wherein the protrusions have
different areas with respect to each other.
19. The display device of claim 17, wherein each said speaker unit
comprises: a lower electrode; an upper electrode disposed opposite
the lower electrode; and a piezoelectric element disposed between
the lower and upper electrodes.
20. The display device of claim 19, wherein the speaker units are
electrically connected to the display panel, and the piezoelectric
elements vibrate in response to voltage applied to the upper and
lower electrodes so that the speaker units output sounds.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of
Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0106986, filed on Aug. 18,
2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the content of
which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a display device capable of
outputting sounds in different ranges simultaneously.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A liquid crystal display ("LCD") is a type of flat panel
display ("FPD") which is most widely used as a display device. The
LCD includes two substrates on which an electric field generating
electrode such as a pixel electrode and a common electrode is
disposed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the two
substrates. In the LCD, a voltage is applied to the electric field
generating electrode so that liquid crystal molecules of the liquid
crystal layer are rearranged, thereby adjusting the amount of
transmitted light.
[0006] A display device using an organic light emitting diode
(OLED) does not require a backlight unit for light emission unlike
an LCD, and can be manufactured so as to have a thin film laminated
structure, which in turn imparts flexibility, and thus it is
drawing attention as not only a flat panel display but also as a
flexible panel display.
[0007] It is to be understood that this background of the
technology section is intended to provide useful background for
understanding the technology disclosed herein and, as such, the
technology background section may include ideas, concepts or
recognitions that were not part of what was known or appreciated by
those skilled in the pertinent art prior to corresponding effective
filing dates of subject matter disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a
display device capable of outputting sounds in different ranges
simultaneously.
[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
display device includes a display panel, a bottom chassis
configured to accommodate the display panel, and a plurality of
speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and
configured to output sounds. The bottom chassis may include a
plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an
enclosure is defined, and also may include a groove that is defined
between the protrusions. The respective speaker units may be
disposed in the protrusions.
[0010] The display panel may include a first substrate, a second
substrate opposite the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer
between the first and second substrates. In this case, the display
device may further include a light guide plate, an optical sheet
under the light guide plate, and a backlight unit including a light
source on one side of the light guide plate.
[0011] The optical sheet may include at least one of a diffusion
sheet, a prism sheet, and a protective sheet, and the light source
may include at least one light emitting diode (LED).
[0012] The display panel may include a substrate, a display layer
disposed on the substrate and including an organic light emitting
diode (OLED), and a thin film encapsulation layer configured to
cover the display layer.
[0013] The protrusions may have areas different from each
other.
[0014] The speaker unit may include a lower electrode, an upper
electrode opposite the lower electrode, and a piezoelectric element
between the lower and upper electrodes.
[0015] The speaker unit may be electrically connected to the
display panel, and the piezoelectric element may vibrate in
response to voltage applied to the upper and lower electrodes so
that the speaker unit may output sounds.
[0016] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
display device includes a display panel, a bottom chassis
configured to accommodate the display panel, and a plurality of
speaker units electrically connected to the display panel and
configured to output sounds. The bottom chassis may include a
plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which an
enclosure is defined, and also may include an opening that is
defined between the protrusions. The respective speaker units may
be disposed in the protrusions.
[0017] The display panel may include a first substrate, a second
substrate opposite the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer
between the first and second substrates. In this case, the display
device may further include a light guide plate, an optical sheet
under the light guide plate, and a backlight unit including a light
source on one side of the light guide plate.
[0018] The optical sheet may include at least one of a diffusion
sheet, a prism sheet, and a protective sheet, and the light source
may include at least one light emitting diode (LED).
[0019] The display panel may include a substrate, a display layer
disposed on the substrate and comprising an organic light emitting
diode (OLED), and a thin film encapsulation layer configured to
cover the display layer.
[0020] The protrusions may have areas different from each
other.
[0021] The speaker unit may include a lower electrode, an upper
electrode opposite the lower electrode, and a piezoelectric element
between the lower and upper electrodes.
[0022] The speaker unit may be electrically connected to the
display panel, and the piezoelectric element may vibrate in
response to voltage applied to the upper and lower electrodes so
that the speaker unit may output sounds.
[0023] According to yet another embodiment of the present
invention, a display device includes a display panel, a bottom
chassis configured to accommodate the display panel, and a
plurality of speaker units electrically connected to the display
panel and configured to output sounds. The bottom chassis may
include a plurality of protrusions protruding downward and in which
an enclosure is defined, and may also include an elastic member
configured to couple the protrusions. The respective speaker units
may be disposed in the protrusions.
[0024] According to the embodiments of the present invention, a
display device is capable of outputting sounds in different ranges
at the same time.
[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be in any way limiting as to the claims of the
invention. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments and
features described above, further aspects, embodiments and features
will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following
detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of
the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the
same or similar components, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
display device according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom chassis
in the display device illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the display device
illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along line I-I' of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
display device according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom chassis
in the display device illustrated in FIG. 4.
[0032] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the display device
illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along line II-IF of FIG. 4.
[0033] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
display device according to yet another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0034] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom chassis
in the display device illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the display device
illustrated in FIG. 7, taken along line III-III' of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] Advantages and features of the invention and methods for
achieving the same will be made clear from exemplary embodiments
described below in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different
forms and should not be construed as being limited to the exemplary
embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments
are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete,
and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled
in the art. The invention is merely defined by the scope of the
claims. Therefore, well-known constituent elements, operations and
techniques are not described in detail in the exemplary embodiments
in order to prevent the invention from being obscurely interpreted
Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the
specification.
[0037] The spatially relative terms "lower," "upper" and the like
may be used herein for ease of description to describe the
relationship between one element or component and another element
or component as illustrated in the drawings. It will be understood
that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in use or operation, in
addition to the orientation depicted in the drawings. For example,
in the case where a device shown in the drawing is turned over, the
device positioned "below" another device may be placed "above"
another device. Accordingly, the illustrative term "lower" may
include both lower and upper positions. The device may also be
oriented in the other direction, and thus the spatially relative
terms may be interpreted differently depending on the
orientations.
[0038] Throughout the specification, when an element is referred to
as being "connected" to another element, the element is "directly
connected" to the other element, or it is "electrically connected"
to the other element with one or more intervening elements
interposed therebetween. It will be further understood that the
terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes" and/or "including,"
when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components,
but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other
features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or
groups thereof.
[0039] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As
used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended
to include the plural forms, including "at least one," unless the
content clearly indicates otherwise. The term "or" means "and/or."
As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations
of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including
technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly
understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention
pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those
defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as
having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the
context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an ideal
or excessively formal sense unless clearly defined in the present
specification.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a display device 100 according to
one embodiment of the present invention includes a display panel
110, a bottom chassis 120 configured to accommodate the display
panel 110, and a speaker unit 130 disposed on the bottom chassis
120.
[0042] The display panel 110 may be a liquid crystal display panel
that includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposite the
first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the first and
second substrates.
[0043] The first and second substrates may be a transparent or
opaque insulating substrate such as, for example, a silicon
substrate, a glass substrate, and a plastic substrate.
[0044] The first substrate may include a pixel electrode including
a transparent conducting material, a thin film transistor (TFT)
configured to apply driving voltage to the pixel electrode, and
various signal lines such as gate and data lines configured to
drive the pixel electrode and the TFT.
[0045] The second substrate may include a common electrode
including a transparent conducting material, a color filter, and a
black matrix (BM) that covers the gate and data lines, and the
TFT.
[0046] The pixel and common electrodes may be all disposed only on
any one of the first and second substrates, or the color filter and
the black matrix BM may be all disposed on the first substrate.
[0047] When the display panel 110 is a liquid crystal display
panel, the display device 100 may further include a backlight unit
140 between the display panel 110 and the bottom chassis 120.
[0048] The backlight unit 140 may include a light guide plate 142,
an optical sheet 144 under the light guide plate 142, and a light
source 146 on one side of the light guide plate 142.
[0049] The light guide plate 142 may equally provide the display
panel 110 with light emitted from the light source 146. The light
guide plate 142 may include a pattern having a particular shape on
its upper or lower surface in order to uniformly supply light. The
pattern may be configured in a variety of forms, e.g., oval,
polygon, hologram, etc., by using a printing method or an injection
molding method.
[0050] The light guide plate 142 may include a light-transmissive
material, e.g., an acrylic resin such as polymethylmethacrylate
("PMMA") or polycarbonate ("PC"), so as to guide light
efficiently.
[0051] The optical sheet 144 may diffuse or collimate light
received through the light guide plate 142. The optical sheet 144
may include any one of a diffusion sheet, a prism sheet, and a
protective sheet.
[0052] The optical sheet 144 may desirably have a triple-layer
structure in which the diffusion sheet, the prism sheet, and the
protective sheet are sequentially disposed, but embodiments of the
present invention are not limited thereto. The optical sheet 144
may be suitably changed to have a double-layer structure.
[0053] The light source 146 may be disposed on a side of the light
guide plate 142 and may emit light to a light incident surface of
the light guide plate 142. The light source 146 may include at
least one light emitting diode (LED).
[0054] The light source 146 may include an LED chip including at
least one LED and may be accommodated in a package 147, but
embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The
light source 146 may include fluorescent lamps such as cold cathode
fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) and external electrode fluorescent lamps
(EEFLs).
[0055] The display panel 110 may include a substrate, a display
layer which is disposed on the substrate and includes an organic
light emitting diode (OLED), and a thin film encapsulation layer
configured to cover the display layer, and thus it may utilize an
OLED.
[0056] When the display panel 110 uses the OLED, the backlight unit
140 may be omitted.
[0057] The bottom chassis 120 may accommodate the display panel
110. When the display device 100 further includes the backlight
unit 140, the bottom chassis 120 may further accommodate the
backlight unit 140.
[0058] The bottom chassis 120 may have a structure in which a
bottom surface shaped like a quadrilateral (e.g., rectangle) is
coupled to a side surface perpendicular to the bottom surface, but
embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The
bottom surface and the side surface may be integrally formed and
the bottom chassis 120 may have varying shapes depending on the
shape of the display panel 110.
[0059] The bottom chassis 120 may include a first protrusion 122a,
a second protrusion 122b, and a third protrusion 122c, which
protrude downward by a predetermined height, and in which
enclosures 123a, 123b and 123c, respectively, are defined, and also
may have a groove 124 between the first protrusion 122a and the
second protrusion 122b and between the second protrusion 122b and
the third protrusion 122c (see FIG. 3), but embodiments of the
present invention are not limited thereto. The numbers of the
protrusions 122 and grooves 124 may be suitably changed when
necessary, and furthermore the protrusions 122 may have different
protruding heights with respect to each other.
[0060] The first, second, and third protrusions 122a, 122b, and
122c, respectively, may be spaced apart from each other and may
have different areas with respect to each other. However, the scope
of the present invention is not limited to the arrangements of the
plurality of protrusions 122. Some of the plurality of protrusions
122 may have the same area and others may have different areas with
respect to each other.
[0061] In one embodiment, the first protrusion 122a may have a
larger area than the second protrusion 122b and the second
protrusion 122b may have a larger area than the third protrusion
122c. Accordingly, the first enclosure 123a may have a larger area
than the second enclosure 123b and the second enclosure 123b may
have a larger area than the third enclosure 123c.
[0062] The grooves 124 may have a shape that is cut in the bottom
surface of the bottom chassis 120 to a predetermined depth
utilizing a half cutting method, but embodiments of the present
invention are not limited thereto. The grooves 124 may be defined
by various methods.
[0063] The grooves 124 may be spaced apart from each other by a
predetermined distance and also may be aligned with each other, but
embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto. The
grooves 124 may be in the form of being connected in one line.
[0064] The speaker units 130 may be disposed inside the first,
second, and third protrusions 122a, 122b, and 122c, respectively.
The speaker units 130 may have different areas with respect to each
other according to areas of the first, second, and third
protrusions 122a, 122b, and 122c, respectively.
[0065] The speaker unit 130 may include a lower electrode 132, an
upper electrode 134 opposite the lower electrode 132, and a
piezoelectric element 136 between the lower electrode 132 and the
upper electrode 134) see FIG. 3). The speaker unit 130 may further
include a housing 138 and a support 139 configured to support the
lower and upper electrodes 132 and 134, respectively, in the
housing 138.
[0066] The piezoelectric element 136 may vibrate in response to
voltage applied to the lower and upper electrodes 132 and 134,
respectively, from the display panel 110 so that the speaker unit
130 may output sounds. The speaker unit 130 may output sounds in
different ranges according to the area of the enclosure 123.
[0067] In other words, the speaker unit 130 in the first protrusion
122a may output sounds in a lower range compared to the speaker
unit 130 in the second protrusion 122b because the area of the
first enclosure 123a defined by the first protrusion 122a is larger
than the area of the second enclosure 123b defined by the second
protrusion 122b. Also, the speaker unit 130 in the second
protrusion 122b may output sounds in a lower range compared to the
speaker unit 130 in the third protrusion 122c because the area of
the second enclosure 123b defined by the second protrusion 122b is
larger than the area of the third enclosure 123c defined by the
third protrusion 122c.
[0068] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
display device 100 has the grooves 124 defined between the
protrusions 122, thereby reducing sound mixture in which sounds in
different ranges outputted from the speaker unit 130 overlap each
other.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, a display device 200 according to
another embodiment of the present invention has the same
configuration as the display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1
except for the bottom chassis. Therefore, descriptions of the
repeated configuration will be omitted for brevity.
[0070] A bottom chassis 220 may include a first protrusion 222a, a
second protrusion 222b, and a third protrusion 222c, which protrude
downwards by a predetermined height, and in which enclosures 223a,
223b and 223c, respectively, are defined, and also may have an
opening 224 between the first protrusion 222a and the second
protrusion 222b and between the second protrusion 222b and the
third protrusion 222c (see FIGS. 5 and 6), but embodiments of the
present invention are not limited thereto. The numbers of the
protrusions 222 and openings 224 may be suitably changed when
necessary.
[0071] The opening 224 may have a shape corresponding to its
passing through a bottom surface of the bottom chassis 220, or may
be a slit shaped like a straight line. However, embodiments of the
present invention are not limited thereto, and thus the opening 224
may have various shapes including a curved line.
[0072] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
the display device 200 has the openings 224 defined between the
protrusions 222, thereby reducing sound mixture in which sounds in
different ranges outputted from a speaker unit 230 overlap each
other.
[0073] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, a display device 300 according to
yet another embodiment of the present invention has the same
configuration as the display device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1
except for the bottom chassis. Therefore, descriptions of the
repeated configuration will be omitted for brevity.
[0074] A bottom chassis 320 may include a first protrusion 322a, a
second protrusion 322b, and a third protrusion 322c, which protrude
downward by a predetermined height, and in which enclosures 323a,
323b and 323c, respectively, are defined, and also may have a
stepped bottom surface between the first protrusion 322a and the
second protrusion 322b and between the second protrusion 322b and
the third protrusion 322c.
[0075] In other words, the second protrusion 322b may further
protrude downward compared to the first and third protrusions 322a
and 322c, respectively. The second protrusion 322b may be coupled
to the first and third protrusions 322a and 322c, respectively, by
an elastic member having adhesion and elastic restoring force. Any
known elastic member may be used if it is made of a material which
imparts adhesion and elastic restoring force.
[0076] According to yet another embodiment of the present
invention, the display device 300 includes the bottom chassis 320
having the stepped bottom surface between the protrusions 322,
thereby reducing sound mixture in which sounds in different ranges
output from a speaker unit 330 overlap each other.
[0077] From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various
embodiments of the invention have been described herein for
purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present
disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, and the true
scope and spirit of the invention is indicated by the following
claims, and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *